Best Travel Alarm Clock- Reviews For 2019

There are many reasons why the ‘old-fashion’ alarm clock is still popular today despite the presence of smartphones.

One major reason is that they are very dependable. Unlike their ‘smart’ counterparts, there’s a lesser chance that you’ll forget to set your alarm. Also, there’s a reasonable chance that you might not have your phone charged enough to ascertain that you’ll be woken up in time for your tour or flight.

These are some of the reasons to get yourself the ‘classic’ alarm clock.

Now, with so many brands and types on the market today, choosing the best ones may be a little bit challenging. So, in this article, we’ll be reviewing the best travel alarm clocks. We’ll start off by listing the top ones, thereafter, we’ll discuss their features, pros, cons and what users had to say about each device.

1. HOCOMO LED Alarm Clock- Our Top Pick and Overall Best

This is our top pick and the overall best for so many reasons.

It is an affordable but very functional piece of travel equipment. It has a large 6.5″ screen that you can mount on the wall, on your desk or on your side table, this makes it easy to check the time without squinting or straining. It is also a pretty clock that looks more modern and better designed than other alarm clocks in its category.

The surface of the clock also doubles as a mirror that can be used for making up, this comes in handy for many ladies that need a relatively big mirror when traveling.

Unlike other devices, you can actually dim the screen of this clock. It has three dim settings so that you don’t need to wake up to an extremely bright LED screen. Also, when its alarm goes off, you can get an extra few minutes of sleep without opening your eyes by just reaching for the clock and hitting its large button at its top.

Furthermore, it comes with two USB ports that can be connected to two devices simultaneously. Most frequent travelers know that this is important such that if you have multiple devices, you don’t need to bring out both chargers, you can simply link them up to this clock and it will charge both devices.

Here’s a summary of its pros and cons.

Pros:

Large mirror surface

Easy to read LED screen

The screen is dimmable

Modern look

Affordable

Rechargeable battery

Dual USB ports for charging phones and tablets

Cons:

A little bit larger than other alarm clocks

User Feedback:

This product is highly recommended and most users were completely satisfied with their purchase. They believe it was a good value for their money.

2. Marathon Basics CL030010BK Travel Alarm Clock- Best For A Budget

This is ideal for people who don’t want to spend much on an alarm clock. It has the basic functions you need and is definitely sturdy.

It is a small, cute device that you can easily carry in your luggage or your pocket, making it a good choice for traveling. When you get to your destination, you can choose to set it up on your desk or side table by flipping its cover. It is a digital clock with a large display that is easy to read.

It is powered by two AA batteries that can easily be replaced. It tries to maximize its battery life by dimming the screen quickly after your last touch. This could be desirable for some but inconveniencing for others. While this feature helps to conserve the battery life, you’ll need to press a button to be able to read the time if you wake up at night, which may not be convenient.

Here are its pros and cons.

Pros:

Affordable

Simple but sturdy design

Portable, can fit your purse or pocket

Batteries are easy to replace

Cons:

You’ll need to press a button to read the time at night

Control buttons may be too small

User Feedback:

There was a generally positive verdict about this device, however, there were few complaints about its buttons not being easy to push.

3. KWANWA LED Digital Alarm Clock- Best Battery-Operated

If you’re looking for an alarm clock that is completely battery operated without any wires, this is ideal for you. It is a well-built minimalistic device that works with 4 AA batteries. These batteries can power the clock for a whole year without needing to be replaced.

The bright LED screen is easy to read, in fact, you can keep the clock at one end of the room and still be able to check the time without any difficulty. The good thing about this screen is that it is dimmable, also it automatically dims between 8 pm and 6 am so that you don’t have to be woken up by bright lights from your clock.

It is an accurate clock with a nice alarm that can be automatically snoozed. You can also turn off the blinking of the colon between the hour and minute digits.

The main downside to this device is that its controls are located behind the clock, so when you’re setting it, you have to keep turning it to check its display. But once set, it’s a very trustworthy and durable product.

Pros:

Fully battery operated

Bright but dimmable LED screen

Portable, can also be placed on a desk or hung on a wall

Accurate time

Cons:

Batteries have to be bought separately

Clock controls are located behind the device

User Feedback:

There was massive positive feedback about this product. A few people complained that it isn’t very easy to set.

This alarm clock is a nice, compact and foldable device that is easy to travel with. It has a calendar and an in-built thermometer. It works with just one AAA battery that comes with the product.

It has a cool stand that allows for 180-degree rotation, so you can face the screen in the direction you want. This also helps you to use it as a phone holder. When you want to pack your bags to leave, you can easily fold it up and the stand serves as a screen cover to protect the screen from damage in your luggage.

Its screen is bright enough and legible and only comes on when you press a button or when the alarm goes off. This helps to conserve the battery power but might be inconveniencing when you try to manually check the time when you wake up at night.

The alarm is gentle enough and might be able to wake you up nicely, however, it only allows for 2-3 snooze attempts. If you’re one that routinely presses the snooze button several times, this alarm clock may not sound after the 2nd or 3rd snooze, so that’s something to consider.

Here’s a summary of its pros and cons.

Pros:

Foldable design

Comes with a calendar and thermometer

Works with a single AAA battery (included)

Legible screen

Cons:

The alarm is turned off after 2-3 snooze attempts

You’ll need to press a button to read the clock at night

User Feedback:

Apart from a few concerns about the snooze settings of this product, most users rate it highly.

This is a battery-powered, small-size, analog alarm clock that comes in different colors to suit your taste.

Once you see an analog clock, the first thing you might imagine is the ‘tick-tock’ sound, but not this device. It has a sweeping motion instead and does not tick at all. It is very small and portable, can fit the size of your hand, and can be placed in your purse.

To aid visibility, the screen has an ambient light that works at night. This puts a nice, warm amber glow on the screen so that you can easily check the time. You can even choose to disable this feature.

The alarm is soft, generic and can be snoozed easily by pressing a button at the top of the clock. It works with two AA batteries that are included in your purchase.

Pros:

Portable

Nice night ambient light

Classic design

Available in multiple colors

Does not tick

Cons:

Not as easy to read like a digital clock

User Feedback:

There were generally awesome reviews about the product, praising its simplicity, its warm non-annoying ambient light, and its alarm tone. However, there were few complaints about not being able to tell the exact time from a distance at night.

Things To Look Out For When Purchasing A Travel Alarm Clock

When you’re trying to get yourself an alarm clock for your travel needs, here are some things to consider.

1. Power Option

For traveling, using an AC-powered clock may not be the best option because it will need to be plugged into a socket which may not be at the best position in your room.

This is why it is recommended to get a battery powered device instead. The advantages are that you don’t need to worry about resetting your clock every time you change your room, also, it’s just easier to bring out your clock and place on a desktop or side table without thinking too much about plugging it in.

2. Size

For traveling, you’ll want all your accessories to be as small as possible to fit into your luggage without sacrificing much space. This is why you have to select one that is small but with a large screen that is legible enough for you.

You have to kind of find a balance. A very small clock may be hard to read even with background light. On the other hand, one with a very large screen may not be handy and easy to move around. Try to find the balance.

3. Display Type

Nowadays, digital screens are becoming more popular than their analog counterparts. This is partly due to the proliferation of LED screens around the world. An LED screen is generally sharper, easier to read and very energy efficient.

However, if you’re a fan of ‘classic’ looking things, you can choose a product with an analog display. If you choose these variants, make sure they don’t have a ticking sound, as this could easily interrupt your sleep.

Also, you have to ensure that the screen of your clock is dimmable or mild enough not to wake you up at night. Many devices have an automatic night dim and a 3-level daytime dim.

4. Alarm Sound

You really don’t want to be woken up by a startling, shouty alarm. This is why you have to check the type of alarm your device offers. The best ones start off with a nice generic tone that gradually increases in loudness. This crescendo style wakes you up gently and is very much less annoying than constant loud beeps.

5. Design

If you’re one who cares about aesthetics, you can choose the more modern-looking ones. There are some pretty devices on the market like our best pick on this article. It looks very cool and will not strike you as the regular alarm clock.

6. Extra Features

Some clocks have extra features like a thermometer, calendar or even a mirror. Usually, this helps them serve as multi-functional devices. Our top-rated product even has the ability to help charge two phones simultaneously through its USB ports.

Over To You

Now it’s time to make your choice, we are pretty sure you’re in a better position to make a more informed selection after reading this review.

We’ll also love to hear from you in the comment section. Have you used any of these travel alarm clocks before? Or have you used any other product that is worth a mention on this review? Let us know by dropping a comment below, we’ll be glad to continue the discussion there and update this post as frequently as possible.